Winter Birds About Washington, D. C., 1916-1917

WINTER BIRDS ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. C. 183

WINTER BIRDS ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. C., 1916-1917.

BY W. L. MCATEE, E. A. PREBLE, AND ALEXANDER WETMORE.

After having committed to the mails our 1916 Christmas Bird Census of 40 species and 752 individuals (made Decem- ber 27 : see Bird Lore, XIX, 1917, p. 25), the writer suc- ceeded in making (on December 30, 1916), a record so much better-in fact, the best winter day’s list for the region-that it seems well to publish this also. At the same time we take the opportunity to present a list of other birds that have been seen near Washington this winter, with brief notes on the more int’eresting species. Our trip of December 30, 1916, was from Mt. Vernon to Dyke, Va., taking us along the partly frozen Potomac, over wooded b’luffs, and through clearings, farm lands, pineries, and river swamps. The day was partly cloudy, with a tem- ature of +20° F. at 8 a. m. Ob,servation,s were made between 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. The species seen were: Herring Gull, 3 ; Hooded Mergan- ser, 21; Canvas-back, 410 ; Golden-eye, 47 ; Ruddy Duck, 4; Bob-white, 16 ; Turkey Vulture, 8 ; Marsh Hawk, 1; Sharp- shinned H‘awk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Kingfisher, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 3 ; Downy Wo’odpecker, 4 ; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 8 ; Red-headed Woodpecker, G ; Red-bellied Wood- pecker, 1; Flicker, 3; Blue Jay, 12 ; Crow, 134; Fish Crow, 6 ; Starling, 9 ; Meadowlark, 4; Purple Finch, 5 ; Red Cross- bill, 2; White-winged Crossbill, 2 ; English Sparrow, 20 ; Goldfinch, 10; Savanna Sparrow, 3 ; White-throated Spar- row, 51; Tree Sparrow, 76 ; Field Sparrow, 4; Junco, 176 ; Song Sparrow, 7 ; Chewink, 4 ; Cardinal, 7 ; Migrant Shrike, 1; Myrtle Warbler, 3 ; Mocking Bird, 5 ; Carolina Wren, 7 ; Winter Wren, 2; Brown Creeper, 5; White-breasted Nut- hatch, 2 ; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Tufted Titmouse, 11; *Names are in alphabetical order; responsibility for the list is equal. 184 THE WILSON BULLETIN-NO. 101

Carolina Chickadee, 20 ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 16 ; Her- mit Thrush, 1; Bluebird, 9. Total, 48 species and llG7 individuals. Crossbills had been seen so often that early in the winter lo- cal 08rnithologists had high hopes that an “ invasion ” of north- ern birds was due ; however, no other boreal species have been seen, though red-breasted nuthatches have been much more numerous than usual. The first crossbills were seen Decem- ber 10, 1916, near Ashburn, Va., by E. R. Kalmbach, D. C. Mabbott, and W. L. McAtee, one whit’e-winged crossbill be- ing seen with a flock od half a dozen red ones. White-wings were next seen at Woodridge, D. C., on December 14, by Mabbott. On December 24, Alexander Wetmore found a female at Four Mile Run, Virginia, and that same afternoon about forty of the same species were seen at Woosdridge, D. C., by E. G. Holt, Mabbott, and Wetmore. On December 27, while making our Christmas Bird Census, the writers observed others of this same species. At Four Mile Run one was first seen as it flew past high in air, and later was followed and lo’cated in a clump of Virginia pines. Later the same day at Dyke, Virginia, Wetmore and A. K. Fisher found a flo’ck of seven in so’me low pines, and afterward observed others in deciduous trees. At dlusk four or five flew into some cedars on a hillside, where they prepared to roost with the juncos. One of these crossbills was flushed from some low weeds when it was almost dark. On December 30, near Mt. Vernon, we saw two red and two white-winged crossbills, in some low dense pines that had overgrown an abandoned orchard. Occasional birds have been observed since the first of the year, but th’e wave of migration among them seemed to pass during the last week of December, and since that time the bulk of the crossbills appear to have betaken themselves elsewhere. The ducks noted in our list were seen on the Potomac, where the bird,s were feeding in the channels and olther open places amongst the ice. On December 30 yellow-bellied sap- suckers seemed almost common, and somewhat to our sur- WINTER BIRDS ABOUT WMHIITGTON, D. C. 185 prise were attracted readily by “ squeaking.” Three Savanna sparrows were noted in a grassy field. Both these’ birds usually are rare in winter in this region. Starlings have been fairly common in the vicinity of Wash- ington this winter, and were seen on nearly every trip afield. They frequented the river flats and fields, mingling freely with crows, an act of familiarity that few native birds dare attempt. On January 7, 1917, we $oNund myrtle warblers common’ near Hunter, Virginia, in woods heavily grown up to under- brush, in which was an exceptional amount of holly. Other species of birds additional to the forty-eight above listed that have been credibly reported in the Washington region during the winter (December 1, 1916, to February 13, 1911), include the following. Unless otherwise stated the observations have been made by one or more of the authors. No attempt has been made to use all knolwrl dates of occurrence, and certain records published in Bird-Lore for January-February, 1917, have been disregarded. X11 the localities named are within fifteen miles of Washington. American Merganser.-Mt. Vernon, Va., January 20, 1917, four observed. Mallard.-Dyke, Va., January 25, 1917, eight.. Black Duck.-Dyke, Va., December 27, 1916, three. Buffle-head.-New Alexandria, Va., December 23, 1916, one (J. P. Young, Bird-Lore, 1917, p. 25). Great Blue Heron.-Four Mile Run, Va., January 14, 1917, one; Dogue Creek, Va., January 20, one. American Coot.-Dyke, Va., December 2, 1916, several recently killed were seen at a hunters’ cabin. Wilson Snipe.-Dyke, Va., December 2, 1916; remains of one killed, probably the preceding day, observed at a hunters’ cabin. Killdeer.-Arlington, Va., December 17, 1916, one: Brandywine, Md., December 2, five; Four Mile Run, Va., December 10, common: one seen December 24. Killdeer usually winter on the tidal basin at the mouth of Four Mile Run, but a heavy freeze drove them away this year. Ruffed Grouse.-Between Contee and Bowie, Md., January 28, 1917. one. 186 THE WILSON EULLETIN-NO. 101

Mourning Dove.-Snowdens,’ Va., January 7, 1917, five; others have been’ reported. Coopers’ Hawk.-Berwyn, Md., December 23, 1916, one; Bowie, Md., December 25, three. Red-tailed Hawk.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916. Broad-winged Hawk.-Brandywine, Md., December 3, 1916; Ash- burn, Va., December 10. Duck Hawk.-At least one has been seen on the tower of the Post Office Department Building this winter, as has usually been the case during the past few years. Sparrow Hawk.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, two; Arling- ton, Va., January 1, 1917 (Miss May T. Cooke). Barn Owl.-One seen at dusk flying above Pennsylvania Avenue, January 3, 1917; two in the northwest tower of the Smithsonian Institution, January 8, 1917. Barred Owl.-Arlington, Va., two (probably a pair), December 27, 1916; Dyke, Va., 3, same date; Plummers Island, Md., February 1, 1917, two. Saw-whet Owl.-Silver Spring, Md., one, November 30, 1916 (A. K. Fisher). Screech Owl.-Washington, D. C., December 23, 1916, two (J. P. Young, Bird Lore, 1917, p. 25); Cleveland Park, D. C. February 14, 1917, one. Prairie Horned Lark.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, two; between Contee and Bowie, Md., January 28, 1917, twenty--five. Red-winged Blackbird.-Berwyn, Md., December 23, 1916, three (E. R. Kalmbach and I. N. Gabrielson, Bird Lore, 1917, p. 24). Rusty Blackbird.-Four Mile Run, Va., December 10, 1916, one; Arlington, Va., December 27, one (probably a cripple). Crow Blackbird.-Brandywine, Md., December 2, 1916, many thousands in flying flocks; Dyke, Va., December 27, nine; Washing- ton, D. C., Woodridge, D. C. January 27 (D. C. Mabbott). Pine Siskin.-Four Mile Run, Va., December 3, 10 and 24, 1916, small flocks in Virginia pines. Chipping Sparrow.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916, one. Swamp Sparrow.-Arlington, Va., December 27, 1916, five. Fox S,parrow.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916; others were reported in the vicinity of Washington at various times during December. Cedarbird.-Ashburn, Va., December 10, 1916. Cape May Warbler.-A living bird caught during a snow storm on December 16, 1916, was brought to Dr. C. W. Richmond at the U. S. National Museum (Auk, 1917, p. 343). Pipit.-New Alexandria, Va., December 23, 1916, one (J. P. Young, WINTER EIRDS ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. C. 181

Bird Lore, 1917, p. 26). Though this bird is considered as a winter resident the earliest recorded spring date is February 16, 1993. Ruby-crowned Kinglet-Folur Mile Run, Va., December 27, 1916, two. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.-Arlington, Va., January 1, 1917, one (Miss May T. Cooke); the earliest recorded spring date is March 30, 1907. Robin.7January 3, 1917, one (H. H. T. Jackson). A robin frequented the holly trees in the Smithsonian Grounds during the first week in February. The species arrived in large numbers from the South soon after the middle of February. The species observed by the authors on December 30, 1916, together with those noted at other times by various observers make a to’tal of 81 species that have been seen in the vicinity during the past winter. Doubtless others have been present, but have been overlooked. Referring to the District of Columbia list (Cooke, Proc. Eiol. Sot. Washington, XXI, 1908, pp. lo’?lls), we find 109 species which may be considered as winter residents, taking the dates used by us (December l-February 15), as a basis. Of these Cooke lists 43 species as winter residents. The present list includes all of these latter except 7. One osf them, the Wild Turkey, is now practically extirpated as a District species. Two others are rare in winter, while the other three are seldom found here at any season. Of the entire rmmber of birds observed this winter, only a f’ew can be co’nsidered as rare species about the District of Columbia. Those best entitled to be so considered are the Ruffed Grouse, Saw-whet Owl, White-winged and Red Cross- bills, and the Pipit. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a co’mmon summer resident, is now first added to the number that have been found in winter; the Myrtle Warbler and Mourning Dove are among the rarer residents at this season. The Cape May Warbler is of course only of accidental occurrence at this time.